Trump moves to open 44 million forest acres to roads, logging, citing wildfire risk

This morning, the Trump administration is moving to lift decades-old protections on more than 44

million acres of national forest, clearing the way for new roads, logging, and other development

to be considered. The Forest Service is proposing to scrap the 2001 Roadless Rule, which for 25

years has restricted road building and logging in national forest areas that don't currently have

roads. More than 95 percent of the land affected is in 10 western states, including Alaska

California, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Colorado and Idaho would not be affected because

they have their own roadless rules. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the rule has made

it harder to clear overgrowth and other fire hazards because forest managers cannot easily

get into some of these areas. In a statement, she said for too long, outdated restrictions have kept

tens of millions of forested acres off limits to the very treatments that improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk to our communities But some fire expert ecologists say more roads could actually increase the risk of fire

by bringing more people into places that are now largely undisturbed. The change would not automatically open all 44 million acres to logging

Those decisions would be left to local forest managers. This is still a proposal

The Forest Service is taking public comment through September 21st at regulations.gov

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